If you’ve got a lucky lady in your life – be it a partner or a family member – chances are you’ve already racked your brain trying to choose the perfect holiday gift. Maybe you’re close to giving the tried-and-true beauty product she already orders on repeat, or yet another fleece throw to add to the growing pile on the couch. Don’t give in. This season calls for something a little more out of the (gift) box.
To shop for your favorite woman, think not only about what they already use, but what they’ve mentioned they’ve wanted in passing. Everyone scores peppermint bark-flavored brownie points around the holidays for proving they actually listen.
From splurge-worthy tech to luxurious scented goods that’ll transport them to a blissful place in the dead of winter, the best gifts for her strike a balance of practical and sentimental. We tapped several women for the best gifts they’ve ever received to get your wheels turning on gift-giving this season.
Manta Silk Sleep Mask


Jennifer P’s sister gifted her this adjustable sleep mask for Christmas because her sleep quality improves in dark settings. “It’s great,” says the pediatric psychiatrist. “It doesn’t put pressure on your eyes.” Its luxurious (and highly giftable) silk eye cups are also designed to be gentle on your hair and skin, and feel like a dream no matter your sleep position. Our sleep mask tester tried 24 models and loved the Manta for its customizable design, which lets you reposition the eye cups for a perfect fit.

The Crush eight-pack gift set

Bathorium
The Crush 8-Pack Gift Set
from $41.96

A thoughtful gift doesn’t need to be expensive, nor a pain to wrap. These pre-packaged bath soaks in soothing scents such as Vanilla Cream and Rosemary Citrus Emulsion bring the spa to her bathroom. “My husband stuffs these in my Christmas stocking knowing I love taking baths,” says Jaclyn Hoffman, an engagement manager. “You can get a pack of them, and they’re single-use bath salts in all different flavors.”

Bathorium
The Crush 8-Pack Gift Set
from $41.96
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite

Amazon
Kindle Paperwhite
$124.99

Whether she’s a self-professed book nerd or an aspiring reader meaning to make a dent in her list of recommended titles, a Kindle can be a gateway to a prolonged reading habit. “[My husband] Nick got me a Kindle in 2018 and I read [on it] every single day, so it’s truly the gift that keeps on giving,” says Melanie Weinstein, a senior UX strategist. “Seven years later, I still use it every day. It’s probably the best gift I’ve ever gotten in terms of usage.” The Kindle’s glare-free screen, long battery life and lightweight feel will invite her to take it everywhere.

Amazon
Kindle Paperwhite
$124.99
Fujifilm Instax Mini Linkx 3 Smartphone Printer

Fujifilm
Instax Mini Link 3 Smartphone Printer
from $137.99

“Last year, my husband got me the most perfect gift,” says Jacqueline Hopmeyer, a marketing director. “I love printing pictures and Polaroids, but this connects to your phone so you can take any picture from your phone and turn it into a Polaroid.” Grab this value pack that comes with 20 sheets and a protective case for the sentimental person in your life.

Fujifilm
Instax Mini Link 3 Smartphone Printer
from $137.99
Yeti Rambler Vacuum Bottle with Chug Cap

Yeti
Rambler Vacuum Bottle with Chug Cap
from $28

Her emotional support water bottle has seen better days. This heavy-duty Yeti will become the instant favorite in her rotation. “My brother gifted me a Yeti water bottle on my birthday a few years ago and it has basically become one of my organs,” says Katelyn Thomas, a reporter. “I have actual separation anxiety when we’re apart. I love that it keeps my water cold for hours, and the fact that I can swap out the chug cap for the commuter cap if I want to use it for a hot beverage instead.”

Yeti
Rambler Vacuum Bottle with Chug Cap
from $28
Oura Ring 4 Ceramic Smart Ring

Oura
Oura Ring 4 Ceramic Smart Ring
from $499

At this point, the Oura smart ring hardly needs any introduction with its devoted following of celebrities and athletes alike. If you can swing the price tag, it’s an ideal gift for someone who has her finger on the pulse on all things wellness.
“The Oura ring has been amazing for me,” says Hoffman. “I got it for Christmas two years ago and I’ve worn it every day since. It tracks your everyday health, stress, sleep and activity. Even if you’re sick with a cold, it’ll pick up on it.” Hoffman also keeps tabs on her Rem sleep, and calories burned during workouts. Importantly, it passes the test all jewelry must pass: “Aesthetically, it also looks good on your hand.”

Oura
Oura Ring 4 Ceramic Smart Ring
from $499
Hotel Lobby Holiday Soy Wax Candle

Hotel Lobby
Holiday Soy Wax Candle
$60

Get her space smelling like a boutique hotel with this festive and display-worthy candle boasting invigorating notes of evergreen, crisp pine and woodsy balsam fir. “This candle is a holiday must for me, and I like it so much I’ve gifted it to friends. It’ll make your house smell divine,” says Ayana Lage, a writer. “I burn it year-round.”

Hotel Lobby
Holiday Soy Wax Candle
$60
Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue, Eau De Toilette Spray

Dolce & Gabbana
Light Blue, Eau De Toilette Spray
from $90

Scent is profoundly linked to memory, so take her back to her youth this holiday with this universally beloved fruity and floral fragrance. “I just got the Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue perfume,” says Weinstein. “I used to wear it in high school. It was one of the first perfumes I ever got and I fell in love with it again.”

Dolce & Gabbana
Light Blue, Eau De Toilette Spray
from $90
Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer

Dyson
Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer
from $399

When Maria Rivero’s partner gifted her the Dyson Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer – widely considered the Rolls Royce of grooming products – she knew she was in for a treat. “I love it because it dries my hair really quickly,” says the civil engineer. “The different attachments make it super easy to switch depending on what I need, it’s pretty quiet, and my hair honestly appreciates that the heat isn’t so aggressive.”

Dyson
Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer
from $399
Aritzia Best-Ever Crew Sock, five-pack

Aritzia
Best-Ever Crew Sock, 5-Pack
$28

She doesn’t need more kitschy socks with bizarre festive patterns she’ll wear one week out of the year. Trust Chantal Stafford-Abbott, a model, when she says these athletic Aritizia crew socks “fit well, they stay up, and they are the best of the best. They’re worth the buy because you wear them every day. I got them from a girlfriend, and then I’ve just kept buying them myself because I’m addicted.”

Aritzia
Best-Ever Crew Sock, 5-Pack
$28
Caudalie Prep & Glow Bestsellers Trio

Caudalie
Prep & Glow Bestsellers Trio
from $49

For self-care in a bottle, consider the way Caudalie’s top skincare products, such as a detoxifying mask and glow-inducing mist, aim to bring her back to life. “My girlfriend gifted me this trio of Caudalie products in the days after my C-section,” says Thomas. “In the post-partum madness – when something as simple as washing your face in the morning isn’t necessarily possible – it was really nice to be able to just spray on the beauty elixir and feel semi-human again.”

Caudalie
Prep & Glow Bestsellers Trio
from $49
Espresso Martini Glass Candle

Candle Lume
Espresso Martini Glass Candle
from $25

“My sister gifts me candles every year for Christmas and my birthday,” says Sydney Davloor, a marketing specialist. “I use them all year almost every night.” This espresso candle from Anthropologie is her favorite because it “just makes me feel so at home, and it’s nice and cozy with the fresh smell of coffee constantly”.

Candle Lume
Espresso Martini Glass Candle
from $25
L’Apero 1,000-piece puzzle


Working triple-duty as artwork, a conversation piece, and a family-friendly activity for a cozy night indoors, this vibrant 1,000-piece puzzle is a thoughtful and practical gift for anyone who needs a little less screen time. “My sister-in-law got me a gorgeous puzzle one year for Christmas, and I love that this puzzle company is so aesthetic and fun,” says Weinstein. Check out our roundup of the best jigsaw puzzles for other options, including gorgeous wood models.

Google Nest Audio Smart Speaker

Nest Audio Smart Speaker
from $69.83

If she hasn’t yet experienced how useful a smart speaker can be for everything, from playing music to setting kitchen timers, this model makes a great introduction. “My brother got me a Google Nest smart speaker for moving into my apartment,” says Stacy Pollack, a change management consultant. “I love that it’s easy to use, looks cute, is perfect for my office desk, and has lasted me a few years.”

Nest Audio Smart Speaker
from $69.83
iPhone 17


“My husband has randomly gotten me a new iPhone when mine got beat up,” says Hoffman. “It’s not something you’d think to get for yourself, especially if you’re not a techie person like me. I just got the newest one and the picture-taking is incredible.” Beyond its next-level camera, the iPhone 17 has a clean design and Apple Intelligence for creating your own emoji.


